9.1 What Is a Visa?

Introduction

A visa is permission for a non-citizen to:

• travel to and enter Australia,
• remain in Australia, or
• both of the above.

The definition of visa is at section 29 of the Migration Act 1958. Visas, and the regulations governing their grant, are administered by the DIAC. Since 1 September 1994, Australian citizens are the only people who can be legally present in Australia without holding a valid visa.

There are many types of visas available to foreigners, each designed to suit a specific purpose, the length of the proposed stay in Australia and the type of activities people want to do when they get here.

Visas can be divided into 2 broad groups:

• PERMANENT OR MIGRANT VISAS, which allow permanent residence in Australia, and
• TEMPORARY VISAS, which have a time limit on the period of stay in Australia.

In this chapter

This chapter contains the following sections:

9.1.1 How to Read a Visa

9.1.2 Visas Issued by DIAC

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Last reviewed: 7 June 2010